Higley's volleyball team appeared on the verge of forcing a fifth set with district and region rival Williams Field on Tuesday night. The visiting Black Hawks, however, had other ideas.

Williams Field posted a closing 6-1 run to ward off a fifth set and defeat Higley, 25-19, 18-25, 25-17, 25-23 in a 5A San Tan Region match. 

Williams Field's victory secured it first place for the moment in the region. The Black Hawks are 4-1 in region matches putting them ahead of Casteel (3-1), Higley (3-1) and Campo Verde (3-2) with the first round of region matches nearly complete in the six-team region.

Pacing #16 Williams Field's triumph was outside hitter Maliyah Labrie, the Black Hawks season-leader in kills. Labrie, a senior, led both teams in kills with an unofficial total of 18. Next on the attack for Williams Field was senior Cayden Desantiago with six kills. #15 Higley's offense relied on seniors Talli Copple (13 kills) and Lauren Drake (10 kills).

The decisive set was harrowingly close unlike the initial three. There were 16 ties and no lead larger than three (Higley 22-19 in the fourth). Williams Field's match clinching run was largely aided by Higley. Higley committed four hitting errors and one service error among Williams Field's final six points. An ace from Williams Field's Kennedie Amarillas accounted for the other point in the 6-1 rally.

Higley takes a break from region play in its next match on Thursday. The Knights head out of state to play Northridge High (UT). Williams Field resumes its schedule on Thursday hosting a region contest vs. Casteel. Casteel dealt Williams Field its only region loss on Sept. 26 in a tightly played, yet three-set sweep for Casteel.